See the Cast of 'Pulp Fiction' Then and Now See the Cast of 'Pulp Fiction' Then and Now January 8, 2014 @ 10:27 AM Miramax Quentin Tarantino 's 'Pulp Fiction' was released in 1994 and became an instant classic: the darkly humorous, non-linear narrative follows the stories of various small-time criminals and mobsters (and one very memorable and mysterious briefcase) as their lives intersect in Los Angeles. Tarantino and co-writer Roger Avary won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film, which was nominated for an additional six statues, including Best Actor for John Travolta -- who experienced a major comeback thanks to Tarantino casting him as lead hitman Vincent Vega. 20 years later, we revisit the cast of the film and see what they're doing now.

John Travolta, Vincent Vega Miramax/Getty Images Then: John Travolta played hitman Vincent Vega, a part originally written for Michael Madsen, who played the role of Vic Vega in Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs.' But when Madsen signed on to star in 'Wyatt Earp' instead, the producers urged Tarantino to cast Daniel Day-Lewis. Tarantino opted for 'Grease' star John Travolta, who took a reduced salary to appear in the film. At the time, Travolta's career was in jeopardy, and he'd been appearing in family films like the 'Look Who's Talking' series.

The gamble paid off, though: Travolta was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Vega, and 'Pulp Fiction' turned his career around, landing him roles in films like 'Get Shorty' and 'Face/Off.' Now: Travolta's career has still had its fair share of missteps: 'Battlefield Earth,' 'Old Dogs,' and 'Wild Hogs,' but he still stars in action flicks like 'The Taking of Pelham 123,' 'From Paris with Love,' 'Savages,' and more recently in the 2013 film 'Killing Season' with Robert De Niro. In 2012, he reunited with his 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John for the Christmas album 'This Christmas,' proving he still hasn't left his musical past behind. Samuel L. Jackson, Jules Winnfield Miramax/Getty Images Then: Though the role of Vincent Vega's hitman partner Jules Winnfield was written explicitly for Samuel L.

Jackson, he almost lost the role to Paul Calderon, who had previously worked with 'Pulp Fiction' stars Christopher Walken in 'King of New York' and Harvey Keitel in 'The Bad Lieutenant.' When Jackson found out that Tarantino loved Calderon's audition, the actor auditioned a second time to secure the role, and wound up receiving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his efforts. Now: Jackson is best known these days as Nick Fury in the Marvel movie universe, appearing in films like 'The Avengers,' 'Thor,' and the upcoming 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier.' Jackson also starred in Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown,' had a small voiceover role in 'Inglourious Basterds,' and co-starred in 'Django Unchained' as Leonardo DiCaprio's head servant. Recently, Jackson appeared in Spike Lee's remake of 'Oldboy,' and will appear next in the 'RoboCop' remake. Uma Thurman, Mia Wallace Miramax/Getty Images Then: Uma Thurman played Mia Wallace, the wife of mobster Marsellus Wallace.

The studio wanted someone like Holly Hunter or Meg Ryan for the role, but Tarantino had his sights set on Thurman, who had previously appeared in 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Jennifer 8.' Thurman turned the role down at first, but when Tarantino called her and read her the script himself, she eventually agreed. Now: Thurman reunited with Tarantino as the star of his 'Kill Bill' films, and the director has teased a possible third film for some time now (though you might not want to keep holding your breath for that one). Thurman also reunited with Travolta for the 2005 film 'Be Cool,' and has appeared in the recent films 'Ceremony,' 'Bel Ami,' 'Playing for Keeps,' and 'Movie 43.' She had a recurring role on the NBC musical series 'Smash,' and can be seen next in Lars Von Trier's controversial sex drama 'Nymphomaniac,' which hits VOD in the US this March.

Bruce Willis, Butch Coolidge Miramax/Getty Images Then: Bruce Willis played Butch Coolidge, a boxer who has been paid by Marsellus Wallace to throw a fight, but wins the fight and decides to flee with his girlfriend instead. Willis had previously lent his voice to the 'Look Who's Talking' films, which starred John Travolta, and although Willis was a big star, his films were no longer doing so hot at the box office -- like Travolta, he needed a bit of a comeback. Now: 'Pulp Fiction' did the trick, and in the following years we saw Willis in films like 'Die Hard with a Vengeance,' 'The Fifth Element,' 'Armageddon,' and 'The Sixth Sense.' In recent years he's appeared in both 'Red' and 'Red 2,' 'The Expendables 2,' 'Looper,' 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation,' and 'A Good Day to Die Hard' -- the fifth film in the 'Die Hard' franchise. He can be seen next reprising the role of John Hartigan in 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,' and has been teasing a sixth 'Die Hard' film.

Harvey Keitel, Winston Wolfe, aka "The Wolf" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Harvey Keitel, who previously starred in and helped produce Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs,' played Winston Wolfe, a fixer also known simply as "The Wolf." Keitel had been Tarantino's favorite actor since the director was a teenager, the part was written specifically for Keitel. Now: Keitel starred in the 1996 film 'From Dusk Till Dawn,' which was written by Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez. He reunited with Travolta and Thurman in the 2005 film 'Be Cool,' and had a small, uncredited role in Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds.' He also appeared with Bruce Willis in Wes Anderson's 2012 film 'Moonrise Kingdom,' and stars in Anderson's upcoming film 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.' Keitel can also be seen in the upcoming movie 'God Only Knows' with Ben Barnes.

Tim Roth, Ringo, aka "Pumpkin" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Tim Roth, who also previously starred in Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs,' played Ringo/Pumpkin, one of a couple of criminals holding up a diner in which Vincent and Jules are eating breakfast. The following year he appeared in 'Four Rooms,' an anthology film with segments directed by Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Now: Roth went on to star in the remakes of 'Planet of the Apes,' 'Dark Water,' and 'Funny Games,' and in Louis Leterrier's 2008 'Incredible Hulk' film. From 2009 to 2011, he played the lead role of Dr.

Cal Lightman on the Fox series 'Lie to Me,' and has since appeared in the films 'Arbitrage' and 'Broken.' He can be seen next alongside Nicole Kidman in 'Grace of Monaco.' Amanda Plummer, Yolanda, aka "Honey Bunny" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Amanda Plummer played Yolanda, Pumpkin's girlfriend and fellow robber, whom he lovingly refers to as "Honey Bunny." Plummer had previously starred in the dark comedy 'So I Married an Axe Murderer.' Now: The following year, Plummer reunited with Christopher Walken in 'The Prophecy,' but since then she's mostly starred in indie movies like 'Freeway,' 'My Life Without Me,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Small Apartments.' She recently portrayed Wiress in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,' and starred alongside Brad Dourif in the 2013 Off Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' acclaimed 'The Two-Character Play.' Maria de Medeiros, Fabienne Miramax/Getty Images Then: Maria de Medeiros played Fabienne, Butch's soft-spoken and quirky girlfriend who has a craving for blueberry pancakes.

The actress had previously appeared with Uma Thurman in 'Henry and June.' Now: De Medeiros had a supporting role in the 2003 film 'My Life Without Me,' which also co-starred Amanda Plummer. She's also appeared in the films 'The Saddest Music in the World' with Isabella Rossellini, 'Chicken with Plums,' and 'Journey to Portugal.' She directed the 2000 film 'April Captains,' which premiered at the Cannes film festival, and followed it up with the 2004 documentaries 'Je t'aime... moi non plus: Artistes et critiques' and 'Welcome to Sao Paulo.' In addition to acting and directing, De Medeiros is also a singer and has released three albums. Ving Rhames, Marsellus Wallace Miramax/Getty Images Then: Ving Rhames played Marsellus Wallace, the intimidating mobster and employer of Vincent and Jules. Before Rhames landed the role, Tarantino wanted to cast Sid Haig, the star of several classic 70s films, but Rhames gave a very convincing audition.

Now: Rhames' performance in 'Pulp Fiction' opened the door for parts in films like 'Mission: Impossible,' 'Con Air,' and 'Out of Sight.' He's also appeared in the films 'Bringing out the Dead,' 'Undisputed,' and the 2004 remake of 'Dawn of the Dead.' He reunited with Bruce Willis for the 2009 film 'Surrogates,' and recently appeared in both 'Piranha 3D' and its sequel, 'Piranha 3DD.' Rhames had a starring role on the short-lived 2013 TNT series 'Monday Mornings,' and reprised his role from 'Death Race 2' in 'Death Race 3: Inferno.' Eric Stoltz, Lance Miramax/Getty Images Then: Eric Stoltz played the role of Lance, Vincent's drug dealer who provides him with the heroin on which Mia later accidentally overdoses.

Stoltz had previously appeared in films like 'Mask' and 'Singles,' and the following year he reunited with Amanda Plummer and Christopher Walken for 'The Prophecy.' Now: Stoltz has starred in the films 'Anaconda,' 'The Rules of Attraction,' and 'The Butterfly Effect,' and appears in the upcoming film '5 to 7.' He's been directing a lot of television lately, helming episodes of ‘Glee’ and ‘Nashville.’ He also recently guest starred on an episode of the IFC series ‘Maron.’ Rosanna Arquette, Jody Miramax/Getty Images Then: Rosanna Arquette played Jody, Lance's wife. Pam Grier auditioned for the role, but Tarantino didn't think audiences would believe someone like Grier would allow herself to be pushed around. Tarantino later cast Grier as the lead in 'Jackie Brown,' helping revitalize her career much as he did for Travolta.

Now: Arquette, who is the sister of actors Patricia and David, reunited with Bruce Willis for 'The Whole Nine Yards,' and has appeared in the films 'Hope Floats,' 'Joe Dirt, and the 2011 indie horror film 'The Divide.' She appears in the upcoming film 'Draft Day' with Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, and has guest starred on recent episodes of 'Girls' and 'Ray Donovan.' Christopher Walken, Captain Koons Miramax/Getty Images Then: Christopher Walken had a single scene in a flashback to Butch's childhood: he played Captain Koons, a soldier who delivers the gold watch that belonged to Butch's father to a young Butch. Walken previously had a similarly small role in 'True Romance,' which was written by Tarantino.

Now: Walken has an incredibly long and varied resume, including memorable roles in films like 'The Propechy,' 'Suicide Kings,' 'Catch Me if You Can,' and 'Balls of Fury.' In 2007 he reunited with John Travolta for 'Hairspray,' and in recent years he has appeared in the films 'Seven Psychopaths,' 'A Late Quartet,' and 'Stand Up Guys.' You can see him next in 'Gods Behaving Badly' and Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of the acclaimed musical 'Jersey Boys.' What If? 'Pulp Fiction' Near-Miss Casting What If? 'Pulp Fiction' Near-Miss Casting by David Weiner 11:05 AM PST, November 15, 2013 Photo: Getty Images Now almost two decades old, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction almost singlehandedly changed the way Hollywood wanted to make movies in the '90s. Now, a comprehensive new book on the film -- Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece (by Jason Bailey from Voyageur Press) – reveals some intriguing casting near-miss and what if?

details, from the possibilities of Daniel Day-Lewis as Vincent Vega (the role now owned by John Travolta) and Meg Ryan as Mia Wallace (the role now defined by Uma Thurman) to even Ellen DeGeneres starring in a supporting role... Related: 5 Shocking Truths About the Making of 'Pulp Fiction' After being reduced to playing third wheel to talking babies and dogs in the Look Who's Talking movies, Travolta's career was practically flatlining before the role of Vincent Vega gave him a second lease on life in Hollywood. But the role originally was meant for Michael Madsen, who played Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (aka Vic Vega, presumably Vincent's brother). Travolta was actually in discussions to play Seth Gecko in Tarantino's From Dusk 'Til Dawn, but he simply didn't want to do a vampire movie. Then, Madsen was forced to pass on Pulp Fiction, having already committed to appear in Wyatt Earp for director Lawrence Kasdan.

Still, before Travolta was considered for Vega, Tarantino toyed with the idea of casting Tim Roth as Vega with Gary Oldman as Jules, thinking to rewrite their characters as "two English guys." But the director really wanted Roth to play the diner robbery man Pumpkin opposite Amanda Plummer, and so he set his sights on Travolta, despite Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein's insistence that My Left Foot Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis take the role, who really wanted to do it. He also suggested Sean Penn or William Hurt. What made Travolta perfect in Tarantino's mind? Already a fan of the actor, it turns out that his Hollywood apartment was the exact same one that Travolta lived in when the star was starting out in the business. He learned this when Travolta went there to meet with him. It was kismet. The two hit it off right away, and even played a vintage Welcome Back Kotter board game together when they first hung out. Tarantino wanted Travolta so badly for the role that he told Weinstein he would walk if he didn't get his way, and the rest is history.

The film's Bruce Willis was also a potential choice to play Vega, and was reportedly miffed at the idea of playing a supporting character and not the lead of the picture. But Willis had already told Tarantino that he was willing to play anyone the director wanted in the movie, and ultimately reigned supreme with a samurai sword as the boxer Butch – a role that was originally out to Matt Dillon. Unfortunately for Dillon, the Drugstore Cowboy star said that he needed to mull it over for a day, and in that meantime, that's when Tarantino met Willis at a BBQ hosted by Harvey Keitel. Again, the rest is history. Related Video: Travolta's Best 'Pulp Fiction' Memories Tarantino wrote the character of Pulp Fiction's Jules Winnfield for Samuel L. Jackson after working with him on True Romance and after a reading for Reservoir Dogs, but a subsequent, lackluster Pulp line reading (Jackson did not realize he had to give an energetic audition for a part written for him) planted doubt in Tarantino's mind – and Jackson lost the role to Paul Calderon, who gave a great reading.

Jackson exploded at the news that he lost the role, returning to Los Angeles with a "full-tilt" audition of "Ezekiel 25:17" that blew everyone away. He got it back, and Calderon was relegated to the small role of English Bob. Later, Calderon claims that Tarantino told him that Laurence Fishburne was the first to be thought of for the role – and turned it down. Uma Thurman memorably killed it as Mia Wallace in Pulp, but believe it or not, Tarantino's first choice was Red Sonja star/Sylvester Stallone's once-wife Brigitte Nielsen, who was a friend of a friend -- and back in 1991 could have potentially helped him finance Pulp as a low-budget short. With the project expanded to a feature-length film script by 1993, Michelle Pfeiffer and Meg Ryan's agents pitched them for the role, while Tarantino considered Holly Hunter, Meg Tilly, Alfre Woodard and Rosanna Arquette.

Arquette tested for the role of Mia, but Thurman eventually won out (even though Tarantino wasn't keen on her for the role before meeting her in person and then hitting it off; still, Uma initially turned down the role because she didn't think she was right for it). Arquette got the role of Jody as a "consolation prize." Interestingly, Ellen DeGeneres read for that role of Jody, as she was trying to transition from sitcoms to films. Tarantino had also considered Pam Grier for the role of Jody, but felt she was too commanding for the part, and saved her for the lead of his Pulp Fiction follow-up, Jackie Brown. Related: 'Gravity' Makes Tarantino’s Top Films of 2013 List As for Marsellus Wallace, Tarantino thought about casting Blaxploitation star Max Julien, star of The Mack, as the notorious crime boss of Pulp Fiction, but that actor stood his ground after reading the controversial basement rape scene, declaring that his fans just didn't want to see that. Like Samuel L.

Jackson, Ving Rhames had previously read for the role of Haldeway in Reservoir Dogs but didn't land it, and fortunately for him, Tarantino remembered him specifically, writing the role of Marsellus just for him and his unique cadence. And again, the rest is history. Chock full of original art inspired by the film, timelines, quotables, deleted scene details, influences, pop culture references, behind-the-scenes photos, scene breakdowns and more, Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece is available now . Pulp Fiction (1994) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error WATCH NOW ON DISC The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

Director: Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite Movies: Stream 10 of His Top Picks on Netflix 18 January 2017 12:15 PM, -08:00 | Indiewire a list of 25 titles created 03 Mar 2012 a list of 24 titles created 02 Jan 2013 a list of 28 titles created 10 Aug 2014 a list of 23 titles created 28 Nov 2014 a list of 27 titles created 3 months ago Search for " Pulp Fiction " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 1 Oscar. Another 60 wins & 65 nominations. See more awards » Videos An insomniac office worker, looking for a way to change his life, crosses paths with a devil-may-care soap maker, forming an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more.

Director: David Fincher Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him. Director: Robert Zemeckis In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same. Directors: Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth Stars: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Quentin Tarantino When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. Director: Christopher Nolan A thief, who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology, is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO. Director: Christopher Nolan After a simple jewelry heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.

Director: Quentin Tarantino Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Director: David Fincher A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. Director: Jonathan Demme Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency. Director: Frank Darabont The Bride wakens from a four-year coma. The child she carried in her womb is gone. Now she must wreak vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her - a team she was once part of. Director: Quentin Tarantino Edit Storyline Jules Winnfield ( Samuel L. Jackson ) and Vincent Vega ( John Travolta ) are two hit men who are out to retrieve a suitcase stolen from their employer, mob boss Marsellus Wallace ( Ving Rhames ).

Wallace has also asked Vincent to take his wife Mia ( Uma Thurman ) out a few days later when Wallace himself will be out of town. Butch Coolidge ( Bruce Willis ) is an aging boxer who is paid by Wallace to lose his weight. The lives of these seemingly unrelated people are woven together comprising of a series of funny, bizarre and uncalled-for incidents. Written by Soumitra Girls like me don't make invitations like this to just anyone! See more » Genres: Crime | Drama Motion Picture Rating ( MPAA ) Rated R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 14 October 1994 (USA) See more » Also Known As: £4,243,233 (UK) (11 November 1994) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia On the wall of the Pawn Shop, there is a license plate bearing 'SW 4913'. This is no coincidence but rather Quentin Tarantino paying homage to the Smith & Wesson 4913 pistol.

See more » Goofs (at around 1h) After Mia regains consciousness from the adrenaline shot, her hand changes position from hovering near the syringe stuck in her chest to being on the floor in the next shot and then rising to hover near the syringe. See more » Quotes [first lines] Pumpkin : Forget it. Too risky. I'm through doing that shit. Yolanda : You always say that. That same thing every time, "I'm through, never again, too dangerous". Pumpkin : I know that's what I always say. I'm always right, too. Yolanda : But you forget about it in a day or two. Pumpkin : Yeah, well the days of me forgetting are over, and the days of me remembering have just begun. Long Haired Yuppie Scum - Lawrence Bender See more » Connections Courtesy of EMI Records USA, A Division of ERG Under License From CEMA Special Markets See more » Frequently Asked Questions Great director. Great story. Great characters.

A masterpiece 4 April 2000 | by guybrush105 (Barcelona, Catalunya) – See all my reviews Tarantino is without a doubt one of the best directors of all time and maybe the best of the 90's. His first film, Reservoir Dogs was amazing and claustrophobic, his segment in Four Rooms was by far the greatest (even though Rodriguez's was excellent too)and Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to the Blaxploitation films of the 70's. However, Pulp Fiction remains my favourite. It was nominated for so many Oscars that I still find it hard to believe that it only got one: Best original script. I'm not complaining because Forrest Gump got best picture, since that film was also Oscar-worthy, but come on, movies like Tarantino's or the Shawshank Redemption deserved much more. Anyway, going back to the movie, I particularly liked the first and second chapters, and that's really a contradiction because one of the movie's finest characters, Mr. Wolf, appears on the third. Bruce Willis also does a great job, and as far as I'm concerned he fell in love with the movie right after having read the script.

I like the way his character gives a "tough guy" image at the beginning and then we discover he's so affectionate and tender to his wife. Travolta is obviously the star of the movie and his second encounter with Bruce Willis in the kitchen along with the scene where he dances with Uma Thurman is when the movie reaches it's highest point. The other star is Samuel L. Jackson, who plays a wise assassin that obviously knows how to handle situations. "And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger..." is my favourite quote. Summarizing, Pulp Fiction is a modern classic and a must-see for anyone who is at least aware of what a movie is. I give it a 9 out of 10. 278 of 503 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary - The Daily Beast Photofest What's in the Briefcase?

The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary Today, Quentin Tarantino’s gonzo pastiche Pulp Fiction is a cult classic. We reveal the film’s most closely-guarded mysteries as it turns 20. Marlow Stern 10.19.14 5:59 AM ET It’s arguably the best film of the ‘90s—a postmodern pop culture smorgasbord awash in nihilism and dripping with retro cool. Pulp Fiction, the brainchild of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (with an assist from Roger Avary) remains one of the most batshit-brilliant movies in modern cinema; a ‘roided-up rollercoaster ride packed with more quotable lines than a half-dozen Shakespeare plays. After being passed up by TriStar, who reportedly found it “too demented,” it was picked up by Harvey Weinstein and his Miramax Films, and released in theaters on Oct. 14, 1994—the same weekend that another modern classic, The Shawshank Redemption, expanded nationwide. It’s now regarded as a camp (and cult) classic.

But the little-known stories behind the making of the film are almost as fascinating as the flick itself. In honor of Pulp Fiction turning 20, here are 20 things you didn’t know about the film: 1. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS IS VINCENT VEGA? The role of anxiety-ridden hitman Vincent Vega was initially written for Michael Madsen, who delivered a scene-stealing turn as the Stealers Wheel-loving, ear-hacking sociopath Mr. Blonde in Tarantino’s previous film, Reservoir Dogs. However, two weeks before the script was finished, Madsen passed on the project—opting instead to play the role of Virgil Earp in Wyatt Earp. It took years for Tarantino to forgive Madsen. With Madsen out of the picture, Harvey Weinstein wanted Daniel Day-Lewis for the part of Vega—since the English actor had won an Oscar for Miramax for My Left Foot.

The famously picky Day-Lewis, who turned down Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings films and had to be coaxed into starring in Gangs of New York by having Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio visit him in Italy where he was cobbling shoes, was also interested. In fact, it’s the only role ever that Day-Lewis has actively pursued. Sean Penn and William Hurt were also considered, but Tarantino wanted John Travolta, whose star had faded, for the part. Ultimately, of course, Travolta was cast in the role after Tarantino pushed hard for him. “I remember it was a big deal with Miramax, too, because Daniel Day was hotter than heck and I was colder than Alaska, so the idea that Quentin went for me over Daniel Day-Lewis was a very big deal,” Travolta told The Daily Beast. “But I understand now, in retrospect, why he did. By using Uma, me, and Bruce, he balanced it with pop culture, and that wouldn’t have happened with Daniel Day or anyone else vying for that part.” 2. AMSTERDAM’S WEEDSPIRATION The genesis of the genius, Oscar winning screenplay to Pulp Fiction began in Amsterdam.

Tarantino wrote it there over several months in his hotel, as well as the “coffee shop” Betty Boop. Thus, there are many cultural references to Amsterdam in the screenplay including the hilarious car exchange between Vincent and Jules about Dutch hash laws. Later, while on their date at Jack Rabbit Slims, Mia mentions how she enjoys heading over to Amsterdam every so often to “chill out” for a few months, and Vincent rolls his cigarettes with Drum—a Dutch tobacco. Also, Butch’s nickname for Fabienne is “tulip,” a flower that’s a cultural symbol of the Netherlands. 3. KURT AND COURTNEY? So, Courtney Love claimed that Quentin Tarantino offered the part of Lance, the drug dealer played by Eric Stoltz, to Kurt Cobain, who then turned it down. If he had accepted, she said she’d have starred as Lance’s uber-pierced girlfriend, Jody (Rosanna Arquette). Tarantino later denied the rumor. What Tarantino does cop to is that when the project was at TriStar, executives wanted Gary Oldman for the part of Lance based off the strength of his performance as a drug lord in the Tarantino-penned True Romance.

When it went over to Miramax, Tarantino mulled playing Lance himself, but ultimately opted to play Jimmy so that he could film the memorable syringe sequence. The role of Jimmy was originally offered to Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs star Steve Buscemi, but he was already committed to other projects, so instead swooped in for a cameo as the Jack Rabbit Slims waiter, Buddy Holly. Pam Grier was also considered (and auditioned) for Jody, but Tarantino didn’t cast her because he felt Grier was too badass to be pushed around by Lance. Based on the strength of her audition, he built his follow-up film, Jackie Brown, around Grier. Miramax Films/Hulton Archive, via Getty 4. BOB DOLE NEEDS SOME VIAGRA In 1996, Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole paid a visit to Chaminade High School in West Hills, California. He delivered a staunch anti-drug speech to a crowd of 1,100 students. “There can be no question that the trendiest trend of our popular culture is the return of drug use,” Dole said. “I have a message to the fashion, music, and film industries: Take your influence seriously.

Respect your talent and power. Stop the commercialization of drug abuse. Stop the glorification of slow suicide.” Then, he singled out Pulp Fiction and Trainspotting as “glorifying” drug use. “If Bob Dole had actually seen Pulp Fiction, he’d see that it does not romanticize heroin use,” Tarantino fired back. “In fact, the most harrowing scene in the film is the one where Uma Thurman’s character almost dies from a heroin overdose. After watching that scene, you could hardly call the use of heroin in Pulp Fiction romanticized or glamorous. The day that Bob Dole actually sees my movie, I’ll expect a public apology.” Get The Beast In Your Inbox! Daily DigestStart and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast. Cheat SheetA speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't). By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to have read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Subscribe Thank You! You are now subscribed to the Daily Digest and Cheat Sheet. We will not share your email with anyone for any reason 5.

SEINFELD MEETS TARANTINO One rumor that’s persisted is that, after Uma Thurman turned down the role of Mia Wallace, Miramax offered the part to Julia Louis-Dreyfuss—this, according to her ex-manager—who had to turn it down because of her Seinfeld commitments. Other actresses interviewed for Mia include Isabella Rossellini, Meg Ryan, Daryl Hannah, Joan Cusack, and Michelle Pfeiffer, with Pfeiffer almost winning Tarantino over. However, he truly had his heart set on Thurman since her audition, and finally convinced her to accept the role after reading her the script over the phone. She was eventually nominated for an Oscar for her performance, which immediately propelled her to the Hollywood A-list. 6. THE SYRINGE SCENE One of the film’s most memorable (and out-there) sequences is the “syringe scene.” After Mia overdoses on heroin, Vincent brings her to the home of Lance and Jody. Lance hands him an adrenaline shot and black magic marker, and he must stab her hard enough with it to pierce his chest plate and inject it into her heart.

The tense scene looks very real on camera, which was accomplished by having Travolta pull the needle out of Thurman’s chest and then running the film backwards. 7. EZEKIEL 25:17 Jules Winnfield’s (Samuel L. Jackson) Biblical kill-speech remains one of the film’s most iconic scenes. After sampling his Big Kahuna burger—as well as some of his “tasty beverage to help wash this down”—Jules delivers it to poor Brett (Frank Whaley) before filling him with holes. Only the last two lines, however, reference the Bible. “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee,” says Jules. “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them,” reads Ezekiel 25:17 in the King James Bible. Tarantino would later admit that the speech wasn’t inspired by the Bible, but was lifted almost verbatim from the 1976 Sonny Chiba film The Bodyguard.

Tarantino would later cast Chiba in a cameo as legendary sword maker Hattori Hanzo in Kill Bill: Vol. 1. 8. A STAR IS BORN Yes, Samuel L. Jackson almost didn’t star in Pulp Fiction. After a great audition by Paul Calderon, which caused Tarantino to seriously consider him for the role of Jules, Jackson caught wind of it and immediately flew out to L.A. for a last-minute audition. He was hungry, so he brought along a fast food burger and soda to the studio. When he arrived, a line producer on the film came up to him ands aid, “I love your work, Mr. Fishburne,” confusing him with Laurence Fishburne, which made Jackson pissed. “In comes Sam with a burger in his hand and a drink in the other hand and stinking like fast food,” recalled producer Richard Gladstein. “Me and Quentin and Lawrence [Bender] were sitting on the couch, and he walked in and just started sipping that shake and biting that burger and looking at all of us. I was scared shitless. I thought that this guy was going to shoot a gun right through my head. His eyes were popping out of his head.

And he just stole the part.” Calderon ended up with a small role as Paul, Marsellus Wallace’s assistant. 9. A HAIRDO TO REMEMBER Originally, Tarantino wanted Jackson’s Jules to sport a big Afro wig as an ode to the Blaxploitation films he grew up loving. However, a production assistant who didn’t know what an Afro was returned with several different types of wigs—including Afros and a jheri curl wig. Tarantino still had his heart set on the Afro, but then Jackson stepped in. “I was, like, 'No, wait!' You know, N.W.A., Ice Cube, all those guys had Jheri curls,” recalled Jackson. “That was the look of the gangs and all those guys who were over there bangin... So I put it on and we shined it up a bit and we were like, OK, this is how he (Jules) is.” 10. THE RETURN OF JULES?

At the end of Pulp Fiction, Jackson’s Jules says to Vincent that, after their brush with death in the diner, he’s just going to “walk the earth.” When Vincent asks him to expand, he says, “You know, walk the earth, meet people… get into adventures. Like Caine from Kung Fu.” In Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Jackson makes a cameo at The Bride’s wedding as a piano-playing drifter who goes by the name of “Rufus.” 11. THE BOXER In addition to Daniel Day-Lewis, Bruce Willis was another actor who’d gotten ahold of the Pulp Fiction script and was desperate to play Vincent Vega. But when Tarantino cast Travolta, he thought Willis would make a good Butch Coolidge. The problem? He’d already promised the part to Matt Dillon. So, when Tarantino sent the script to Dillon and Dillon said, “I love it. Let me sleep on it,” Tarantino reportedly called his own agent, Mike Simpson, and said, “He’s out.

If he can’t tell me face-to-face that he wants to be in the movie—after he read the script—he’s out.” So, Willis was cast as Butch the boxer. Despite the fact that his star had faded a bit, Willis still had a lot of international box office pull, so in the eyes of Tarantino, once he was cast it made the film “legit,” he says. “Once I got Bruce Willis, Harvey got his big movie star, and we were all good. Bruce Willis made us legit. Reservoir Dogs did fantastic internationally, so everyone was waiting for my new movie. And then when it was my new movie with Bruce Willis, they went apeshit,” Tarantino said. On the strength of Willis’s name, Miramax pre-sold the film’s international rights for $11 million, thus guaranteeing it would be profitable (since the film only carried an $8.5 million price tag). 12. BUTCH’S MARQUEE MATCHUP The boxing marquee from Butch’s match displays a lineup card of two fights: “Coolidge vs. Wilson” and “Vossler vs.

Martinez.” Butch’s surname is, of course, Coolidge, but the first matchup is also a reference to U.S. presidents Calvin Coolidge and Woodrow Wilson, whose tenures are often compared with one-another. The second reference, “Vossler vs. Martinez,” is a shout-out to Tarantino’s pals Russell Vossler and Jerry Martinez, both of whom used to work in a video store with the future filmmaker. Tarantino would also name a crucial character Russell Vossler in the Tony Scott film Crimson Tide, after his True Romance director hired him to do uncredited rewrites. Vossler was played by Lillo Brancato (A Bronx Tale). 13. THE WEIRD CAB LADY “What does it feel like… to kill a man?” The scene between getaway cab driver Esmeralda Villalobos (Angela Jones) and Butch is one of the oddest in Pulp Fiction. Tarantino got the idea for the character after seeing her in a 30-minute short film titled Curdled, where Jones played a young Miami woman who loves her job of cleaning up after murders.

Later, Tarantino would help finance the 1996 movie Curdled, a feature-length adaptation of the short. 14. THE DANCE Rumor has it that Pulp Fiction’s legendary dance sequence between Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace at Jack Rabbit Slim’s was directly copied from the Fellini classic 8 ½. However, Tarantino says it was more heavily inspired by the one in Godard’s Bande a part, which translates to “Band of Outsiders.” Tarantino would name his production company with Lawrence Bender, A Band Apart, after the film. “My favorite musical sequences have always been in Godard, because they just come out of nowhere,” Tarantino said on Pulp Fiction’s DVD extras. “It's so infectious, so friendly. And the fact that it's not a musical, but he's stopping the movie to have a musical sequence, makes it all the more sweet.” According to Travolta, quite a good chunk of the dance routine was conceived on the spot. “That was improvised quite a bit,” Travolta told The Daily Beast. “I’d actually told Quentin about the dances I grew up with. The Twist is what he wanted, but I said, ‘There were other fun dances from that era!

The Spin, The Batman, The Hitchhiker. You can expand this, and don’t have to include just The Twist.’ And he said, ‘Okay.’ So I said, ‘Why don’t you film it, and you call it out? We’ll start with The Twist, and then when you get bored with The Twist, throw out something else.’ So he was behind the camera going, ‘The Swim! The Batman!’ He’d mix-and-match. We shot it during the section of the day, and there weren’t that many takes.” 15. THE GIMP’S BRIDE One of the most notorious, unforgettable scenes in Pulp Fiction involves Butch and Marsellus being held hostage in the basement of a seedy antique store by three psycho hillbillies—the storeowner, a dirty cop, and a Gimp. It’s a clear homage to Deliverance. But believe it or not, the man who played the Gimp, Stephen Hibbert, was married to Julia Sweeney at the time of filming, who played Raquel (the woman in the lumberyard who goes off on a date with The Wolf).

Sweeney is best known as a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, where she played the androgynous Pat. Hibbert and Sweeney divorced in 1994. 16. THE WOLF The character of Winston Wolf, the mustachioed, composed gent played by Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction, was undoubtedly inspired by Keitel’s role as Victor, a.k.a. “The Cleaner”—a government agency specialist who’s brought in after missions go awry to kill everyone and dispose of the bodies. Tarantino wrote the role specifically for Keitel, who was one of his favorite actors growing up. It’s a crying shame that Keitel’s Wolf character wasn’t given his own TV show in which he’s called in to solve a different sticky situation each episode. 17. THE ONE WITH “BAD MOTHER FUCKER” ON IT Jules’ wallet that says “Bad Mother Fucker” on it actually belonged to Tarantino at the time of filming Pulp Fiction. The inscription on it is a reference to the theme song of the 1971 film Shaft, and interestingly enough, Samuel L.

Jackson—who played Jules, of course—would go on to play Shaft in the 2000 film Shaft. 18. SPEAKING OF CURSE WORDS… The word “fuck” is uttered 265 times in Pulp Fiction. 19. THE MYSTERIOUS BRIEFCASE There have been several theories as to the contents of Marsellus Wallace’s highly coveted briefcase. The mysterious glowing briefcase, for starters, pays homage to the 1955 film noir Kiss Me Deadly, which also featured a mysterious briefcase whose contents glowed. Although in that film, the briefcase contained an atomic bomb. Theories have claimed that the briefcase in Pulp Fiction is supposed to contain everything from Elvis’ gold suit—worn by Val Kilmer in True Romance—to a copy of Spider-Man No. 1. The most out-there theory, beloved by online conspiracy nuts, is that it contains Marsellus Wallace’s soul, which was removed from the back of his head (hence the Band-Aid), and sold to the devil (hence the briefcase combination of ‘666’).

However, Tarantino has gone on record as saying that the Band-Aid on the back of Ving Rhames’ head was merely due to Rhames accidentally cutting himself while shaving his head. Tarantino thought the Band-Aid was cool because it added an air of mystery to Marsellus. According to co-writer Roger Avary, the original plan was for the briefcase to be filled with diamonds—referencing the stolen ones from Tarantino’s previous film, Reservoir Dogs. But Tarantino nixed that idea, instead choosing to have the contents be whatever you want it to be. Of opening the briefcase, Travolta told The Daily Beast, “[Tarantino] just told me, ‘Be completely impressed… like something you’ve never seen before.’” 20. BIG KAHUNA BURGER Miramax/Photofest “That is a tasty burger!” Big Kahuna Burger is a fictional chain of Hawaiian-themed fast food burger joints out in Los Angeles dreamed up by Tarantino. The burgers first made an appearance in Reservoir Dogs—Mr. Blonde goes and grabs a burger and soda from the joint after their diamond heist, and the logo can later be seen on his soft drink.

Then came Pulp Fiction, in which Jules consumes Brett’s burger and soda before shooting him to pieces. Later, the burger chain made an appearance in the Tarantino-penned From Dusk Til Dawn (George Clooney’s Seth Gecko is seen holding a Big Kahuna takeout bag), as well as the Tarantino flicks Four Rooms and Death Proof. That Tarantino never opened a real-life Big Kahuna Burger out in L.A. seems like a huge missed opportunity. READ THIS LIST

Question: Who played the role of 'Jools' in the film 'Pulp Fiction'?
Answer: SAMUEL L. JACKSON